GREAT FALLS — The City of Great Falls has issued a timely reminder, in light of recent reports of toilet-paper hoarding and some bare shelves at grocery stores in our community.
In a Facebook post, the City said with news of the COVID-19 virus spreading, there is a shortage of toilet paper at many stores.
As a result, some people may choose to use other products that are not meant to be flushed - such as baby wipes, paper napkins, or paper towels.
The City cautions that if you are running short on toilet paper and opt to use paper towels or wipes of any kind - even those marked 'flushable' - please DO NOT FLUSH! That will likely clog up the sewer, possibly endangering public health and the environment, and/or cause damage to your home or property.
If you believe you have a sewer backup in your home, call the City Utilities Division at 406-727-8045, or if it is after 5 o'clock, or on weekends or holidays call the City Water Plant at 406-727-1325. The notice also reminds people that the sewer line from the main into the residence is the property owner's responsibility.
As of Thursday, March 12, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 actually in Montana. Here is the latest update from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services as of Thursday morning:
- Reported COVID-19 Cases in Montana: 1*
- Individuals monitored by public health: 30
- - Individuals who have completed monitoring process: 26
- - Individuals who remain under monitoring: 4
- Persons tested for CoVID-19: 34
- - Persons with negative results: 34
- - Persons with positive results: 0
* The sole confirmed Montana case is a Lake County woman who is currently in Maryland. Health officials in Maryland say the woman was last in Montana in November 2019, has not returned to the state since that time, and was not in Montana during the 14-day incubation period. Despite the fact that the woman is not in Montana currently and has not been in Montana since she was exposed and tested positive, current guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) mandate that her case is considered to be a "Montana" case. Click here for more information.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), as of March 12, there are 1,215 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the nation. There have been 36 deaths, most of them in Washington. Click here for the latest information about COVID-19 at the CDC website.
